Lewis Hamilton‘s difficulties at Ferrari persisted in Montreal, with Fernando Alonso highlighting that understanding the true cause is challenging as only the team holds the full insight. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season was met with high hopes, combining the sport’s most successful driver with its oldest team in an effort to chase long-awaited success.
Expectations faded soon after as Hamilton searched for his first Grand Prix podium, let alone race victories or the World Championship, ten races into the campaign. Despite securing a Sprint pole and victory in China, these remain his only notable achievements for the year, with his best Grand Prix finish being fourth place at Ferrari’s home race in Emilia Romagna, where he trailed race winner Max Verstappen by 14 seconds.
That race marked the only occasion he outperformed teammate Charles Leclerc on a Grand Prix Sunday, adding to a growing narrative of challenges within the team.
Comparing Hamilton and Leclerc’s 2025 Season Performance
Statistically, Hamilton has been outpaced by Leclerc across qualifying sessions, Grand Prix results, and cumulative championship points this year. Hamilton himself has alluded to deeper issues within Ferrari that cannot be publicly disclosed, suggesting internal complexities beyond the track.
The mindset for me, I’m like ‘there’s a lot of changes that need to be made in the system’,
Hamilton remarked.
He continued,
I wish I could tell you what’s happening. There’s a lot going on in the background.
Reiterating the unclear nature of the situation, Hamilton said,
Yeah, I can’t say too much about it. There’s so many things I wish I could tell you that could explain the things that have happened this year, the problems we had, and what’s going on within the organisation.
This uncertainty shields the precise causes behind the struggles, even as speculation surrounds Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, the technical staff, and Hamilton himself.
Alonso Reflects on Hamilton’s Struggles and Team Dynamics
Fernando Alonso, a three-time runner-up with Ferrari who also pursued a World title with the team, admitted he has no clear explanation for the difficulties Hamilton faces. Speaking in Montreal, Alonso said,
What’s wrong with him? I have no idea,
but acknowledged Hamilton’s talent by adding he is
a great driver, he’s capable of exploiting all his strengths.
Alonso expressed confidence that Hamilton could reverse his fortunes as the season progresses, noting,
After 24 races, we’ll do the math: he’s struggling now, but he can turn things around very quickly.
However, Alonso highlighted a troubling similarity between Hamilton’s current struggles and his previous battles against George Russell at Mercedes, where Hamilton was also disadvantaged by a challenging car setup.
He explained,
I don’t think the situation has changed much compared to last year with Russell. Then, the Mercedes was apparently difficult to drive and Russell was more comfortable. This year seems to be the same,
indicating that performance issues may stem from a combination of driver-car compatibility.
Uncertainty Surrounding Ferrari’s Internal Situation
The full story behind Hamilton’s ongoing difficulties at Ferrari remains confidential within the team. Alonso emphasized the challenge in forming opinions without complete information, concluding,
it’s difficult to give an opinion without having all the information.
The unfolding season will reveal whether Hamilton can overcome these obstacles and rediscover the pace needed to challenge his teammate and contend for victories. Meanwhile, Ferrari must address internal concerns to unlock the potential that initially energized their partnership for 2025.
